Hot rods to draw crowd for stroke awareness event

Kin Cruz of Windward Hills prepares his '71 Yenko Nova to be sold to a caretaker while he recovers from a stroke. The buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, is offering Cruz the option to buy back the hot rod when he is ready.
Mark Scott/PDN

Kin Cruz's 1971 Yenko Nova gets a final photo shoot before being sold Feb. 12 in Windward Hills. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, will help cover costs at Kin recovers from a stroke, and allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery is complete.(Photo: PDN file)

A combined hot rod show, stroke awareness and medical fundraiser will take place 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Friday in the Port of Mocha Tamuning parking lot.

Kin Cruz, 62, of Yona, suffered a stroke that left his entire left side paralyzed in July 2015. It took a toll on him physically and rendered him unable to bring in extra income, says Dr. Thomas Shieh. Medical bills brought on even more financial hardship and his wife, Sue Cruz, 60, quit her job to care for him.

For an active individual that always provided happiness and support to others around him, it was devastating to be on the receiving end, says Sue Cruz. “But I remind him, let’s take the negative and turn it positive. You suffered a stroke, you have very good friends to come out and organize a fundraiser for you. There is a stroke awareness event with hot rods because of you.”

“Because of Kin, we will talk about stroke prevention, treatment and especially early detection and educate the community. ... It can happen to anyone,” says Shieh, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist.

Shieh and the Guam Hotrods Club, which Kin is a member of, decided to put this event together after Kin sold his 1971 Chevy Nova to ease some of the family’s financial burden. The car was his pride and joy, his Sunday ride and an heirloom for his son, says Sue Cruz.

“This is a classic 1971 original Chevy Nova. It is not only a classic but restored to model a Yenko,” says Shieh.

The Yenko Nova is a rare Nova that has been beefed up by the historical Yenko Chevrolet dealership. The dealership took Chevrolet muscle cars and customized them from 1949 to 1982. There are only a few hundred still in existence, he adds.

Members of Guam Hotrods Club will bring their classic cars to the meet up. There will be 20, including the licensed replicas of the GT500 Mustang “Eleanor” from the movie “Gone in 60 Seconds” and the 1963 Volkswagen “Herbie” from “The Love Bug.”

Donations to help the Cruz family are welcome. And for every signature mocha purchase during the event, Port of Mocha is donating $1 to the family. Two nurses from Shieh’s clinic will be there offering free blood pressure checks from 5:30 to 7:10 p.m. Shieh also will be available to answer any questions about women’s health care.

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Kin Cruz, of Windward Hills, center, prepares his 1971 Yenko Nova to be sold Feb. 12. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery from a stroke is complete. Mark Scott/PDN

Kin Cruz's 1971 Yenko Nova gets a final photo shoot before being sold Feb. 12 in Windward Hills. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, will help cover costs at Kin recovers from a stroke, and allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery is complete. PDN file

Kin Cruz's 1971 Yenko Nova gets a final photoshoot before being sold Feb. 12 in Windward Hills. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery from a stroke is complete. Mark Scott/PDN

Kin Cruz's 1971 Yenko Nova gets a final photoshoot before being sold Feb. 12 in Windward Hills. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery from a stroke is complete. Courtesy Dr. Thomas Sheih

Kin Cruz of Windward Hills, front, prepares his 1971 Yenko Nova to be sold on Feb. 12. The sale, facilitated by Dr. Tom Shieh, allows for the car to be returned to Cruz once his recovery from a stroke is complete. PDN file